Senator Elizabeth Warren has expressed her endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, a candidate for New York City mayor, particularly praising his proposal for government-operated grocery stores.
During an interview on CNBC Squawk Box on Friday, Warren was asked about some of Mamdani’s more unconventional ideas, which include the government owning and subsidizing grocery stores.
She elaborated:
We face a significant issue with entire areas identified as food deserts, where residents lack access to grocery stores.
He suggested, similar to what we see on military bases, that we might explore the possibility of city government support to establish grocery stores in currently underserved areas.
This is a fresh and inventive approach for New York City. It has been implemented successfully in various cities across the country.
What I hear from Mamdani is a commitment to experimenting with solutions that benefit working families. And you know what? This is the essence of democracy.
Many New Yorkers seem to agree, expressing their preference for this proposal over other available options.
Watch the clip below:
Elizabeth Warren states that government-operated grocery stores have succeeded in other cities.
Can someone clarify where these mythical cities are located? pic.twitter.com/l8btJqm1Og
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) July 18, 2025
However, the idea of state-run grocery stores has a storied history of failure, particularly in communist regimes, with the Soviet Union serving as a prime example of such policies crumbling under their own weight.
Yet, this is just one of several audacious proposals from the 35-year-old Mamdani, who recently won his Democratic primary battle.
As a member of the New York State Assembly, Mamdani has long championed efforts to defund the New York Police Department, arguing that it is primarily designed to exert control over marginalized communities.
He also posits that defunding the police is crucial for promoting “queer liberation,” asserting that law enforcement actively aids in the oppression of minorities by supporting a “violent, right-wing government.”
Meet Zohran Mamdani: A Muslim Communist Who Wants to ‘Defund The Police’ and ‘Globalize The Intifada’
